Most people think having a happy-go-lucky kid is a good thing. He doesn't mind when schedules get off or life doesn't go his way. He follows along with life as it comes, and doesn't worry or stress. This "I'm OK with whatever" attitude is fine for you child up to a point, but it also has a downside. A child who is happy-go-lucky might not be as motivated to improve, succeed or sometimes even try. It's your task to find a way to get him to do just that.

Provide incentives. If it doesn't seem to bother your child if he does poorly on a test other school work, create an award system. Set up a chart that includes each subject he is working on. In preschool, this might be simple letter writing and motor skills, but they are still areas that he needs to conquer.

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Place stars next to the subject areas each time you get a good progress report, and remove stars when he doesn't. Explain to your child that once he receives a certain number of stars, he will get a reward. For additional incentive, tell him ahead of time what the reward is.

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Sit down with your child while he does any school work or activity. Provide more difficult tasks and give him encouraging words when he tries to do them.

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Ask him what he is interested in and provide ways to explore those interests. Take him to science museums or swimming lessons, if that is where his interests lie.

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Provide no reward for a lack of action. If your child prefers to just lie on the floor and watch TV instead of doing other activities, remove the TV as an option. It is keeping him from being motivated into action. Tell him if he wants to watch TV, he must do something else first or at the very least do something while he watches TV. Give him options such as trying some math problems, coloring or practicing his writing.